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SEARCHCongratulations to the 2025 SALON TODAY 200 honorees who embrace the latest tech features, apps and programs to improve their operations, including AnneMarie Krainich, owner of Ottalaus Salon of Lehi, Utah.
For a busy salon or spa owner, technology serves as an additional manager, automating systems and processes; communicating to and educating guests; measuring and motivating team members; and marketing to the community for new business.
BLO
Raleigh, NC
justblo.com
Bryan Nunes
SQUARE FEET: 4242
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 22
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $50
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Redken, Pureology
COLOR: Redken
TECH SUPPORT: Rosy, Snapsnip
“Our most crucial technology tool is SnapSnip which we developed. It is currently used in more than 200 salons across the U.S. It’s a virtual consultation process optimized for a mobile device. It offers first-time guests the ability to be placed with the right stylist for the proper amount of time and provide an accurate price quote for their desired look. In our salon, it’s been critical in ensuring that our young designers are prepared for the new color services booked in their chairs.”
The team from Coterie 17 Salon & Spa in Robbinsville, New Jersey, grab a group shot.
COTERIE17
Robbinsville, NJ
coterie17.com
Angela Pantaleone
SQUARE FEET: 5500
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 50
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $70
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Oribe, Bob, Oway
COLOR: Colorspace, Eufora
SKINCARE: Oway, Dr. Dennis Gross
NAIL CARE: Qtica, OPI, Madam Glam
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Vish, Mya Salon, Ninja
ASSOCIATIONS: ICA
“AI-powered review analysis helps us align our operations with guest expectations. For example, positive reviews frequently highlight our stylists’ active listening skills. By analyzing this feedback, we’ve been able to pinpoint opportunities for growth. We now use these reviews in training sessions, teaching our team to take the time to ask the right questions, dig deeper into what the client really desires and communicate effectively and skillfully if something requires a different approach.”
Eric Fisher and the team from Eric Fisher Salons in Wichita, Kansas, toast their success.
ERIC FISHER SALON
Wichita, KS
ericfishersalon.com
Eric Fisher; Mary Fisher
SQUARE FEET: 4000, 1500, 1500, 1500
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 75
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $69
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Kérastase, Kevin.Murphy, Eleven Australia
COLOR: Goldwell, L'Oréal Professionnel Pulp Riot
SKINCARE: Image Skincare, Skinceuticals, Biojuve
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Tippy, Paylocity, Survey Monkey
“Phorest’s marketing suite gives our team everything they need to share information with our guests. We can use the campaign builder to send emails about service and retail sales, salon news, special events and more. If the client doesn’t have a valid email address in our system, we can choose to send them a text that contains a link to the email, so they don’t miss out on offers or updates. We can target our top retail spenders to share holiday sale offers or refine by birthdate to send our monthly birthday coupon.”
The team from Harlow Beauty and Hair Salon in Austin, Texas.
HARLOW BEAUTY AND HAIR SALON
Austin, TX
harlowaustin.com
Misty Krant
SQUARE FEET: 3000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 17
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $69
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Eufora, Kerastase
COLOR: Eufora, Pulp Riot
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Vish, Mya, Fullybooked Ai
“Vish helps us track color usage, reduce waste and make sure we are charging accurately for each and every service. It gives us the ability to communicate the precise chemical costs of a clients’ process and charge a transparent fee that directly offsets our professional product expenses. Even better, that same fee added $40,000 in profit, creating a sustainable, profitable model that allows us to reinvest in our team and our business.”
Donning their SALON TODAY 200 shirts, the team from Mermaid Hair Extensions in Kirkland, Washington, celebrate.
MERMAID HAIR EXTENSIONS
Kirkland, WA
mermaidhairextensions.com
Cindy Reynolds
SQUARE FEET: 3500,1200
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 16
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $150
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Mermaid Extension Care, Olaplex, Color Wow
COLOR: Redken, Chi, It&ly
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, TrueLark, Salon Symphony, After Pose
ASSOCIATIONS: ICA, PBA
“We introduced TrueLark, a conversational AI chatbot that can recognize user intent and understand natural language to provide client support and experience. This appealed to me because I knew we had clients who called when we were closed but had found another salon by the time we returned their voicemail. Now, our average monthly percentage of phone calls handled without human intervention is 82%, and the average amount of front desk employee hours saved is a whopping 39 hours per month.”
AnneMarie Krainich, the owner of Ottalaus Salon in Lehi, Utah.
OTTALAUS SALON
Lehi, UT
ottalaus.com
AnneMarie Krainich
SQUARE FEET: 3300, 2500, 2200
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 64
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $68
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Oribe, Kerastase, Goldwell
COLOR: Goldwell, Redken
TECH SUPPORT: Zenoti, Mya, Vish, Goldwell
ASSOCIATIONS: ICA, PBA
“Mya is one of our strongest tools to get new prospects to engage with us by completing a survey on our website. We have received 514 leads in the last 90 days, and our ROI is roughly $18,000. This also has helped our retention percentage go from 35% to 64% year over year.”
Pat Helmandollar and Lauren Springer, owners of Savvy Salon and Day Spa in Cornelius, North Carolina.
SAVVY SALON AND DAY SPA
Cornelius, NC
savvysalonanddayspa.com
Pat Helmandollar, Lauren Springer
SQUARE FEET: 6500
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 38
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $68
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Kerastase, Bumble And bumble, Aveda
COLOR: Wella, Pulp Riot
SKINCARE: Dermalogica, Cosmedix, Jane Iredale, Beauty Prep
NAIL CARE: CND, DND, OPI
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Demandforce
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“The latest and greatest technology we have come across recently is our virtual business card. It saves on printing costs and 99% of our guests have cell phones and are technologically savvy. As far as our team, they were born of the technology era, they get it and get it quickly.”
The Unicorns at Soleil Salon & Spa in Windham, New Hampshire.
SOLEIL SALON & SPA
Windham, NH
soleil-salon.com
Luisa G Garcia
SQUARE FEET: 3700
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 15
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $60
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, Bob, Oway
COLOR: Aveda
SKINCARE: Ultraceutical
NAIL CARE: Dazzle Dry, OPI
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Vish, Mya, Tippy
ASSOCIATIONS: ISPA, 2 to 10 Network
“Soleil faced a significant crisis when a flood destroyed 90% of the salon, halting all business. The Phorest Staff App helped us keep our team engaged and motivated under reconstruction, and we introduced a gamified element to keep morale high during our rebuilding phase. Each time they hit a goal, they earned a unicorn, and rewards like brand partner products and gift cards. One team member texted me, ‘I don’t care about the pay, I want to see the Unicorn every week.’”
The team from Supernova Salon in North Vancouver, British Columbia.
SUPERNOVA SALON
North Vancouver, BC
supernovasalon.com
Dana Lyseng
SQUARE FEET: 1950
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 32
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $75
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Kerastase, Davines, R+Co
COLOR: Wella, Goldwell, Redken
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Mya, Vish
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA, Beauty Council
“When we receive an email showing a Mya match with a new client, we send them a personalized email thanking them for taking the survey and we offer a complimentary Kerastase Fusio Dose treatment with their first appointment. We know our stylists can be suuceesful with treatments and this is a way to make the client feel special. Going forward, that stylist can continue to rebook treatments with future appointments, creating stronger revenue for their future. We feel technology supports everyone to win.”
The team from The Changing Room in Aventura, Florida.
THE CHANGING ROOM
Aventura, FL
ChangingRoomSalons.com
Justin Gold
SQUARE FEET: 2800
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 31
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $79
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Surface, Redken, Matrix
COLOR: Matrix Redken, Pravana
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Vish, TrueLark
“In order to recruit new team members, we use Canvas Me, a platform that showcases our salon’s culture, values, and work opportunities. Potential candidates can easily access this through our website and our Instagram, helping us attract individuals who align with our vision.
A collage of snapshots from Wanderlust Salon and Spa in Sevierville, Tennessee.
WANDERLUST SALON AND SPA
Sevierville, TN
wanderlustsalonspa.com
Jessi Sexton
SQUARE FEET: 3400 2500
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 19
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $66
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Amika, Davines
COLOR: Colorspace
SKINCARE: Green Envee
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Tippy, Vish
“We send reviews to each client after their service and each review over four stars automatically goes to Facebook/Google. Any reviews below four stars comes to us, so we can reach out to that client to see how we could have provided better service. This helped us retain clients and see where we needed to grow. Our reviews are at a steady 4.7 rate.”
COME CELEBRATE the 2025 SALON TODAY 200 at our annual Award Dinner, which is part of Data-Driven Salon Summit in Scottsdale, Arizona, Sunday, April 27th. For more information and tickets, visit https://www.datadrivensalon.com/st200.
It's that time of year again: SALON TODAY 200 Application Season! To celebrate our 30th anniversary we have a new best practice category--Talent Recruitment and Retention. Applications due October 31st!
The landmark, photo-based interior design competition has opened its application process. We'd love you to hit us with your best shots!
The landmark, photo-based interior design competition has opened its application process. We'd love you to hit us with your best shots!
At night, Dominic Michael Salon keeps the interior lights on, as the illuminated, eye-catching contemporary design serves as a billboard that consistently attracts new guests.
Built from the ground up, Mane 18’s design strikes a balance between an elevated experience for guests and the functionality and flow necessary for team members to perform at their best.
Andreas Hogue Salon’s recent renovation surprises visitors with the interior’s expansion of space, elevated retail area, and changing views of the restored Chicago prairie.
It's Day 10 of our SALON TODAY 200 reveals, and we've reached the end! Today, we toast the honorees in the second half of growth--the salons, spas, and barbershops that constantly strive to build stronger bottom lines, including Brandy Smith Stephens in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
On Day 9 of our 2026 SALON TODAY 200 reveals, a big 'Huzzah' to our first look at the salons, spas and barbershops that fueled their growth by mastering a number of best practices, including the fun team from Lavish Hair Lounge in Albuquerque, New Mexico. (P.S. The second half of Growth comes tomorrow.)
A big "Bravo!" to the salons and spas that develop strong cultures that fuel growth while retaining team members, such as Soleil Salon & Spa team in Windham, New Hampshire, who catch up reading last year's 200 issue.
We tip our hats to the salons and spas that genuinely connect with guests and strive to elevate their service, including Chenica Racine and Ricka O'Bannon, owners of C&R Beauty Bar in Louisville, Kentucky.
Hats off to the 2026 SALON TODAY 200 honorees who make education a priority for employees at every level, including Eric Fisher Salon, which hosted Educator Oscar Bond for a cutting class in Wichita, Kansas.
Today, we have two 2026 SALON TODAY 200 categories as we hail the salons that find creative ways to build client loyalty and the ones that constantly explore and embrace new technology to further their businesses, including the social-savvy team from Verde Salon Group in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
For today's SALON TODAY 200 announcements, we toast the honorees who prioritize the environment in their business decisions and those who take retail to the next level, including the excited team from Pure Salon Spa in Louisville, Kentucky.
Cheers to the SALON TODAY 200 honorees who give their time, talent and fundraising efforts to their communities, including Eli Mancha and the team from Bang! Salon, whose cut-a-thon has collected more than 1,200 coats that have been donated to Chicago's unhoused.
It's Day 1 of our 2026 SALON TODAY 200 announcements, and today, we raise our glasses for the honorees in the Business Builders category. These salons, including Elan Hair Studio in Spring Lake, New Jersey, took strategic risks that paid off in revenue-generating success.
It's time to celebrate the 2026 SALON TODAY 200 honorees who design rewarding career paths and seek out enriching benefits to keep their team members healthy, happy and growing, including the team from Pinup Studio in Raleigh, North Carolina, who always enjoy a good pajama party.
With a training salon, treatment rooms, education and collaboration spaces, a podcast studio and a yoga studio, BASE ONE is the foundation for the future growth of PENZONE Salons+Spas, as well as the company's gift to their community and the industry. Peruse the image gallery or take the personalized video tour led by Debra Penzone to see this exceptional space.
